Abstract [en]

“If you fold you will be eaten” – a intervju study about masculinity and violence written by Isabel Arias and Mina Andersson. Violence is a social problem regulated by the Swedish juridical system. It is defined as an act in which a person intentionally or due to negligence afflicts harm, pain, suffering or death onto another. Both men and women are victims and perpetrators of violence. Statistically men are overrepresented when it comes to the use of violence. The purpose of this interview-based study is to create a deeper understanding of how violent men themselves view their acts of violence, and how norms of masculinity may have affected those acts. This qualitative study is based on semi-structured interviews, hermeneutically interpreted. Modern sociological understanding of gender, primarily based on Hirdman and Connell, theory of deviating's sociology and Connell's theory of hegemonic masculinity provides the theoretical framework to this study. The results indicate that socially excluded young men are likely to be normalized to, and actively choose violence and violence promoting groups in order to find a community. To these men the violence thus becomes a resource to achieve what one lacks; a way to re-establish status, earn respect, possess power and as a mean to control others and one self. The study furthermore indicates that men legitimize their use of violence in various ways; blaming high levels of testosterone or arguing that violet act comes from inherent difficulties verbalizing emotions.